Reclining article of furniture



Oct. 13, 1953 A. LORENZ RECLINING ARTICLE OF FURNITURE s Shets-Shet 2Filed 001;. 16, 1946 &

z RN. M E0, v/- N M M w 4m HIS ATTORNEY Oct. 13, 1953 A. LORENZ2,655,200

RECLININGARTICLEOF FURNITURE Filed Oct. 16, 1946 a Sheets-Sheet 5 if .lg?

I H l S ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12Claims.

The present invention relates to articles of furniture, and moreparticularly to a reclining article of furniture, wherein the seat andthe back-rest form movable links of a polygonal compound linkageincluding a sliding pair.

An object of the present inventionis to provide a reclining article offurniture of above described type, wherein the movable members of thearticle of furniture are very well balanced, so that an occupant restingin the article of furniture may bring th movable members of the articleof furniture from one position into another position without greateffort.

A further object of the present invention is to improve upon recliningarticles of furniture as now ordinarily made.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the inventionconsists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination ofvarious devices, elements and par-ts, asset forth L in the claimshereof, certain embodiments of the same being described in thespecification and being illustrated in the accompanying drawings formingpart of this specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of an adjustable reclining chairaccording to the invention, a portion of a side Wall of the supportbeing broken away,

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view,

partly in section, of the arm rest of the chair q? shown in Fig. 1, inan enlarged scale, s

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of anadjustable reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of aside wall of the support being broken away, 7

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the arm rest ofthe chair shown in Fig. 4, in an enlarged scale,

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5, N

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on line 1-! of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of another-em bodiment of anadjustable reclining chair according to the invention, a portion of aside wall of the support being broken away,

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of the arm-rest ofthe chair shown in Fig. 8, in an enlarged scale, and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line III-l0 of Fig. 9. 0

Referring now to Figs. 1-3, 220 generally indicates a rigid supportcomprising two side frames 222 rigidly connected with each other bytransverse rods 200 and 224. The adjustable reclining chair shown insaid figure has a permanently constrained linkage including theback-rest 236, the eat 244, the front link 260, the top link or armrest262 and the guiding link 29!) as movable links and the portion of thesupport 220 between the pivot 252 of the back-rest 236 and the pivot 296of the eluding link 290 as a stationary link.

As best shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the top link 262 has a hollow portionwith a slot 212 for the passage of the front link 260 and the guidinglink 290,

a great portion of which is concealed by the walls of the hollow portionof the top link 262. A guiding means or guiding rod 282 secured to thetop link 262 is arranged within said hollow portion of the top link 262.The upper portion 293 of the guiding link 290 embracing the guiding rod282 forms the slider of the sliding pair 293, 282 of the polygonallink-system of the chair. The slider 293 may be displaced relative tothe guiding rod 282 between the set collars 211 and 218 secured to theguiding rod 282. The lower end portion of the guiding link 290 ispivoted to the support 226 at 296.

The rear portion of the top link 262 is pivoted at 288 to anintermediate point of the back-rest 236 in a plane above the plane oftheseat 244. The lower end portion of the back-rest 236- is pivotallyconnected with the rear portion of the seat 244 at 252. The frontportion of theseat 244 is pivoted at 256 to the lower end portion of thefront link 260, the upper end 'portion' of which passing through a slot2l8 of'the guiding rod 282'is pivoted to the latter at 264. 7 Thus, thepivotally connected back-rest 236, seat 244, front link 260 and top link262 form a four-sided linksystem of a polygonal linkage including theswingable guiding link 290 shiftably engaged with the guiding rod 282 ofthe top link 262. The foursided link system 236, 244, 26-0, 262 isswingably mounted on the support 220 at 252 in'co-axial alignment withthe pivotal connection between the back-rest 236 and the seat 244 at apoint spaced from the pivotal connection 296 between the support 226 andthe guiding link 290.

When the back-rest is swung about its pivot 252, the movable members ofthe chairmay be brought, for example, from the sitting position shown infull lines, into a reclined position, :for example, the extreme reclinedposition shown in dash-and-dot'lines.

The sitting position is limited by an'abutment of the seat 244' againstthe cross-bar200 acting as a stop. The extreme reclined position islimited by an abutment of the set-collar 218 secured to the guiding rod282 against the guiding link 230.

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position bymeans of a locking device generally indicated by 22!. As best shown inFigs. 1 and 2, the connecting link 290 is in the shape of a clip havingbores 223 for rotatable engagement with the bolt 236 mounted on the sidewall'222 of the support 220. A square portion 225 of the bolt 296 isinserted into a corresponding square aperture of the side wall 22.2 ofthe support 220. A head 221 of the bolt 296 rests against a surface ofsaid side wailflfi. The square portion 225 prevents the bolt 23.6 fromrotation when a locking knob 229 is screwed on the threaded end of thebolt 2%. When. said locking knob 229 is loosened, the guiding rod 282may freely slide in the clip 290, so that the members of the chair maybe moved from one positioninto another one. Whenthe'locking knob 32! istightened, the clip 230 'is tightened on the guiding rod 282 whereby thelatter and the movable members of the chair are'held in their position.Of course, any other suitable locking device may be used for locking themovable members of the chair ina predetermined position, if desired.

The adjustable reclining chair shown in Fig. comprises a support 320including side walls 3-22 connected witheach other by cross-bars 300 and324.

The top'lin'k generally indicated by 362 comprises a solid :frontportion 33!, a hollow intermediate portion 333 and a solid rear portion335. As-best :shown in -Figs. .5 and 7, the intermediate portion 333 isrigidly connected with the front portion and the rear =portion335'byscrews 33! or the like. The intermediate portion 333 has a sIot 312 torthe passageof-aconnecting link333 swingably mounted-on'the support 320'at396'. A slider or sliding block 333 rigidlysecured to the upper end:portion of the guiding link 330 by means of screws 33 is slidablyengaged with a guiding surface 34! formed by a portion ofthe innersu-rface of the hollow intermediate portion 333- 03 the top link 362.

The :rear' portion 335 of the top link 362 is pivoted tointermediate-point of the'b'ack-res't 336 at 383. The lower endportionof the backrest 33 6 is pivoted to the'rear portion of theseati334 at 352. The front portion of theseat 334 is-pivoted atfififi'to the lower portion of the front link "330, the :upper portionof which "is pivotedto the front portion :331- :of theitop link 352 at364:. Thus, the pivotally interconnected back-rest 338, seat "344, frontlink 3'80 and :top link 3.82-forma four-sidedlinkesystem of a polygonaIlinkage including the guiding link l33mand thesliding pair .341, 333.The seat 34 4 being a member of said four-sided link-systemis pivotettat 3'43sto the supportat-azpoint spaced from the'pivotaliconnection 352between: the-'ba'ckerest 335 and the seat. 344 and, furthermore, spacedfrom the pivotal connection. 356' between "the support 320 and theguiding link 330. The linkage of the chair shown inJFig. 4 ispermanently :constrained.

011 each side of theschair, the front link 360' tormsanupwardi extensionof a leg-rest 354-. Ofcourse, if :desiredsthe'leg-rest354 could be madeof a separate piece of matenialisrigidlyconnected withthe front links.360 in any-desired manner.

The sitting position of the movable members of the-chair shown ,tulllines is limited: by the top link 352 with the back-rest 336.

cross-bar 300 on which the seat 344 comes to a rest. The extremereclined position of the movable members of the chair shown indash-anddot lines is limited by an abutment of the surface 345 of thefront portion 33! of the top link 362 against the slider 333.

The movable members of the chair may be held in any desired position,for example, in the extreme reclined position or in any otherintermediate position by means of a locking device generally indicatedby 34! and arranged on the pivot 383 connecting the rear portion 335 ofthe As best shown in Figs. .4, 5, 6, said locking device 341 comprises ahandle 349 screwed on the threaded end of the pivot 388. Said pivot 388has a head .35 resting against the surface of the back-rest 336. Asquare portion 333 of the pivot 388 is inserted into a correspondingsquare aperture of the back-rest 336, whereby the pivot 383 is prevented:from rotation when the locking handle'i349 is "turned. When the user ofthe chair loosens the iocking handle. 3 43', the surf aceof the hub -3of said handle is disengaged fromthe surface of the rear portion 335 ofthe toplink 362', 'so that the movable members of the chair may-befreely moved fromone position into another one. When the locking handle349 is tightened, thesurface of the hub-of the'handle'is pressedragainstthe rear portion 335 or the top link 3B2, whereby the latter is pressedagainst the back-rest 33-6 engaged with the head 35lact the pivot 388,so that the members of the-chair are held in their position. Of course,any-other type of locking device may be used instead of said lockingdevice 341, if desired.

According to the embodiment of an'adjustable reclining chair shown inFig. 8, the support 420 comprises the sidewalls 424 connected witheach-other'by cross-bars Mil-and 424.

The top link generally indicated by 462 :comprises a main portion 45'!:and an extension 453 integral with-each .other. Said extension 453includes a hollow portion, wherein the guiding rod- 482 is mounted. Ahook-like member 46! having a threaded upper end is screwed into athreadedbore of said guiding rod 482.

The rear end of the main portion 451 ofv the topzlinkis pivoted toanintermediate-point of the back-rest 436 air-488. The lower'end-of thebackrest 436 is pivoted totherear portionof the seat 444 .at 2452. Thefront portionof the seat 444 is pivoted to the lower end portion of thefront link Na-1:456. The upper endportion of said irontlinkASlJr-isswingably mounted on the end 46301 the hook-like member43lin-a plane somewhat below the plane of the longitudinal axis .of thetop link-462. The lower end portion of the guiding linklflfl being. inthe shape-of a clip isswingably mounted on the support-420 at 436. Theupper "end :portion 493 of the guiding link 490 embracing the guidingrod 432 is slidably engaged withsaid guiding rod 482 arranged in theforward extension 459 of the top link 4B2 projecting beyond the pivotalconnection- 463 between the frontlink 460 and the 1toplink-462. Thepolygonal linkage of the chair comprises the four-sided link-system 436,444, 460,. 452 swingablymounted-on the support-42D at 452,theguiding-link 430 and the sliding pair 493, 482'.

The movable members of the chair may .be held'inany desired position by:meansof a looking device generally indicated by 42!and-arrangedzonthepivot 49 3.

The sitting position-of the movable members 5 of the chair shown in fulllines is limited by the cross-bar 400 on which the seat 444 comes to arest, and the extreme reclined position of the movable members of thechair shown in dashand-dot lines is limited by an abutment of theset-collar 418 against the guiding link 490.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it isunderstood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, andthat various omissions, orchanges in shape, proportion, and arrangementof parts as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for theelements shown and described may be made without departing from thespirit and scope ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

For example, theguiding rod slidably engaged with the slider mounted onthe guiding link must not necessarily be arranged within a hollowportion of the top link; the guiding rod could also be arranged outsidethe top link proper.

Furthermore, the guiding rod may be omitted entirely, and the slider mayembrace a guiding surface of the body of the top link proper.

Moreover, the invention may be applied to other articles of furniturethan the type of chairs shown in the drawings, for example, to ofiicechairs, chairs for use in railroad cars, chairs for use in airplanes,loungets, etc.

What I claim is:

1. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprisingin combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkagehaving stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, saidstationary link-means being included in said support, said movable linksincluding a seat-member, a back-rest-member, a guiding link, a top linkand a front link, said front link being pivoted at a first point to thefront end portion of said seat-member land being pivoted at a secondpoint, spaced from said first point, to the front end portion of saidtop link, the rear end portion of said top link being pivoted to saidback-rest-member, means pivotally connecting at least one of saidback-restand seat-members with said support, one end portion of saidguiding link pivoted to said support, and an elongated slidableconnection between the other end portion of said guiding link and saidtop link.

2. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said slidableconnection including guiding means arranged on said top link, and anelongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding linkand slidably engaged with said guiding means.

3. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, at least a portion ofsaid top link being hollow and having a slot, said slidable connectionincluding guiding means arranged within said hollow portion of the toplink, and an elongated slider mounted at said other end portion of saidguiding link and slidably engaged with said guiding means, and saidother end portion of the guiding link passing through said slot intosaid hollow portion of the top link.

4. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said slidableconnection including a guiding surface arranged on said top link, and anelongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding linkand slidably engaged with said guiding surface.

5. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1,

, at least a portion of said top link being hollow and having a slot,said slidable connection including a guiding surface arranged withinsaid hollow portion of the top link, and an elongated slider mounted atsaid other end portion of said guiding link and slidably engaged withsaid guiding surface and said other end portion of the guiding linkpassing through said slot into said hollow portion of the top link.

6. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, said slidableconnection including guiding means arranged on said top link, and anelongated slider mounted at said other end portion of said guiding linkand slidably engaged with said guiding means, and stop means mounted onsaid top link for cooperation with said slider so as to limit at leastone extreme position of the movable links of the constrained linkage.

7. In combination with an article of repose as claimed in claim 1, aleg-rest swingably mounted on the front portion of the seat, and amember of said constrained linkage being operatively connected with saidleg rest for controlling the movements of the latter.

8. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprisingin combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkagehaving stationary link means and a plurality of movable links, saidstationary link-means being included in said support, said movable linksincluding a seat-member, a back-rest-member, a guiding link, a top linkand a front link, said back-rest-member being in pivoted connection withthe rear end portion of said seat-member, said front link being pivotedat a first point to the front end portion of said seat-member and beingpivoted at a second point, spaced from said first point, to the frontend portion of said top link, the rear end portion of said top linkbeing pivoted to said back-rest-member at a point spaced from thepivotal connection between the back-rest-member and the seat-member, atleast one of said back-restand seatmembers being pivotally connectedwith said support, one end portion of said guiding link being pivoted tosaid support, and an elongated idable connection between the other endportion of said guiding link and said top link.

9. In an article of repose as claimed in claim 8, said seat-member beingpivoted to said support at a point being spaced from the pivotalconnection between said seat-member and said back-rest member.

10. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprisingin combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkagehaving stationary link-means and a plurality of movable links, saidstationary link-means being included in said support, said movable linksincluding a seat-member, a back-rest member, a guiding link, a top linkand a front link, said front link being pivoted at a first point to thefront end portion of said seat-member and being pivoted at a secondpoint, spaced from said first point, to said top link, the rear endportion of said top link being pivoted to said back-rest member, andmeans pivotally connecting at least one of said back-restandseat-:members with said support, said top link having a forwardextension projecting beyond its pivotal connection with the front link,one end of said guiding link being pivoted to said support, and theother end of said guiding link being shiftably engaged with said forwardextension of the'top link.

11. An article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprisingin combination: a rigid support, a permanently constrained linkage=haying-stationary Link-means (and; -apinmlrof 'mova-ble links sa-idstationany link-means being included said support, said movable links:including aseat-membemaabaolvrest memhes, ag uiding flinlg, atop 'link afront link, a guiding rod rigid with saidtop-linig said front 1ink=beingpivoted. at a first anoint to said-seatmember and! being pivoted at asecond point, spaced irom'said first point, RI-i118 front end poittiono-flsaid top link, themear end portion of saidton link being pivotedato:said -back=rest mom-hen, meansspivotal-lyieonnecting-at. least one ofsaid bank-rest and; seat-members with said support, one-end. of. saidguiding being pivoted to said support, and .1as1ider -mountedon theotlaer zenrlz of said guiding link: anei-=slic1ab1y engaged withsaidiguiding-z zrod- 1:2..An anticle of repose for supporting thev bodyof: =a.;person,, mmprising in; combination; a rigid support, a.ipemnanently '"c'onstrainedi link;- age having stationary link-means:and :a. plurality movable -links, said stationary link-means beinginludei in said support, said movable links including a seat-member, aback-rest member, a guiding link, a top link and a front link a guidingrod rigid withsaicl-toplinm/said trout-link being" pivoted at "a firstpoint to said seat member and being pivoted at a second point, spacedfrom-said first point, to said 'ginding rod,. the r.ear end portion. ofsaid top link being pivoted to; said back-rest- -member means pivotallyconnecting at least one; of said backrestand seat-members with said:support, one endv of said guiding link being. pivoted to said support,anda slider mounted onthe other end of :said guiding link and slidablyengaged with said guiding rode V v References Cited in the file "it thispatent UNITED STATES JEMJIE-HIZS. Number Name I Date 4 '2,l'73',283-Lorenz Sept. 119-, i939 2 470,!81 Lorenz May as, 1949 2,571,463 LorenzOct. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Nurnber' Country Date 421,103 France Oct.-5, 1910 513,709 Great-Britain -a 01713.19, 15939

